Month: April 2014

THE KINGS OF SUMMER (2013)

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It was with unexpected joy that there were a lot laugh out loud moments in this film.
It is not strictly a comedy, just a film that knows how to get to the funny bone through situation as opposed to a set up gag.

It is an oddity, in so far as it refuses to go where you expect, which is why it may not do as well as it should. Hard to compartmentalise for the marketeers.
The basic premise is three teenage friends decide to run away from their respective homes and build a house in the woods to live in.

Nick Robinson as Joe, our main protagonist, delivers a performance layered with teenage nuance, confusion and angst and is definitely one to watch. Gabriel Basso (Super 8) plays Joe’s best friend, Patrick and it feels like they have known each other for many years and share a wealth of history.
Moises Arias is the wildcard as Biaggio, a Golem-like oddity who is really the heart of the film. He is absolutely brilliant, delivering strange like no other.

The supporting cast are mostly well-known-the excellent Nick Offerman is Joe’s Dad struggling to keep himself happy living alone with his son, Megan Mullally and Marc Evan Jackson play Patrick’s Mum and Dad with the perfect pitch of ‘parents who just don’t understand’ and their repartee is a joy to watch. Allison Brie (Community) is Joe’s sister who no longer lives at home and Eugene Cordero is her dumb boyfriend and confidently brings his funny to the table. Mary Lynn Rajskub and Thomas Middleditch play cops and every scene they’re in is a treat.

Jordan Vogt-Roberts delivers a comedy that includes some true emotional journeys. It’s interesting to find out that he directed 5 eps of Funny or Die Presents (Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s comedy lovechild) and a few of the actors have also appeared in this show. Work with people you know, you trust and are talented. Simple equation.
And that’s what he’s done.

Also, worth mentioning is the camerawork beautifully lensed by Ross Riege, the soundtrack (Golden Clouds-The Orb feat Lee Perry, stunning), and the brilliant script penned by Chris Galletta.

The trailer quotes a review saying “Superbad and Stand By Me combine to form Sundance’s funniest comedy” Not far off at all.

Definitely worth a looksee. A surprising gem.

3.8/5

BUY IT ON BLU-RAY DVD HERE

DOWNLOAD THE FILM ON iTUNES HERE

 

AWFUL NICE (2013)

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This indie comedy film forces two estranged brothers to spend some time together after their father dies and leaves them a lake house.

James Pumphrey and Alex Rennie (who is also the screenwriter with director Todd Sklar) play the brothers and have a great chemistry, arguing, fighting, and lying like they have real history. Christopher Meloni (Keller from Oz) amusingly plays their father’s ex business partner and lets rip with a very silly voice and hair-style. Brett Gelman also has a great time playing a Russian heavy.

The escalation into brotherly scuffling comes quick and natural and is initially quite funny but after a while it gets a little tired.
This film has a lot of potential and a lot of the credit should go to the two actors who riff off each other with ease. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to its expectations.
What could have been a classic was merely a film that was probably made 10 years too late.
Tonally, it shares sensibilities with Napoleon Dynamite and Swingers but fails to reach their comedy heights. What a shame.
Still there’s some comedy in there and is entertaining enough.
Was it “Explosively funny”? Not really, but there were a few laughs in there.
Hats off to them for making this on such a low budget, anyone who can get a film off the ground and finish it deserves, at the very least, some credit, fair play.

2.8/5

BUY IT ON DVD HERE

DOWNLOAD THE FILM ON iTUNES HERE